Indicator for telephone-calls.



E-lT. DUCHARME.

I INDICATOR FOB TELEPHONE CALLS.

.nrmoumn 11.21: 1ov.1s, 1901.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

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H M. @Wnvd EUGENE '1. DUOHARME, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDICATOR FOR TE LEPHONE-CALLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed November 15, 1907. Serial No. 402,261.

My invention relates to indicators or enunciators for telephones, and its object is to provide automatic mechanism for indicating telephone calls.

It consists in mounting an indicator disk upon an arm, which is secured to a pivot and operated by levers so arranged as to be started in motion by the movement of the clapper against the bell when the same is rung.

It further consists in a system of connecting-rods and levers connected to the switch carrying the hook and also to the indicator arm, whereby the removal of the'receiver from its position on said hook will cause the indicator to be restored to its normal position.

My invention is of particular advantage when used in hotels and oflice buildings, or in other places from which the occupant of the premises is likely to be temporarily absent. hen used in a hotel, my indicator is operated from the usual switchboard connected with the main office, and through such use, I am able to dispense with the services of the bell boy commonly employed for leaving written notices of telephone calls at room of the party called. Here as elsewhere it often occurs where a person is alone in a room or oflice that he is unable to go out while awaiting a call, whereas if my indicator be employed, he is able to leave at any time and know at once when he returns whether he has been called or not. If he sees that a call is indicated he has only to communicate with the switchboard and find out the name and number of the party who has called.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a telephone box, showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is another view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the said box.

Similar numerals of designation refer to similar parts throughout the several views,

In the drawing, 3 represents a telephone box ofthe usual construction to which are secured the transmitter 4, the bells 5, parallel standards 6 and 7, and the usual switch 8 terminating in a hook 9. On the said hook 9 is hung the receiver 10 as is customary in ordinary use. The switch 9 is provided with the usual spring attachment, so that when the receiver 10 is removed therefrom, the said switch will move upwardly by reason of the same. The clapper of the bell, the small steel ball 11, is placed at the end of a wire, the other end of which is fastened to an armature in the usual manner. 12 is a push button, and 13 an open circuit shown in one of its simplest forms.

14 represents an elbow lever, one arm of which 15 is connected to the switch 8 by means of the connecting-rod 16. The other arm 17 of said lever is preferably constructcd so as to have at the edge thereof and integral therewith, a flanged portion bent laterally thereto and constructed so as to strike sharply against the end of the rod 18, when the switch 8 is raised. The rod 18 is located at the top of said box and is secured at its inner end to the movable head 19. If desired, a groove may be provided in the top of said box 3, in which the said rod 18 can slide back and forth, or the said rod may be loosely connected to said boX by means of staples 20 as shown. Between the bells 5 in some convenient position is placed the lever 21, which is secured at one end to a pivot 22, and at its other end to the movable head 19. The said lever 21 is so arranged that the steel wire carrying the clapper 11 will normally rest against it and when the clapper is caused to vibrate between the bells, the said lever will be thereby forced to one side. Upon a pivot 23 secured to the front parallel standard 6 is mounted the arm 24, at one end of which is secured the indicator disk 25. In the said front standard 6 is a circular opening 26, through which the face of the indi cator may be seen when said disk is moved to the right. The lower extremity of said arm 24; is secured to said head 19.

Preferably the indicating words, such as Called or the like, are displayed on the wall of the rear standard 7 immediately back of said opening, and are normally obscured or covered by the disk 25 as shown in Fig. 1, but obviously without departing from the spirit of my invention the said words may be carried on the outer face of said disk, moved therewith, and shown through said opening 26, if such arrangement be deemed desirable or convenient.

My invention is operated as follows :-By

pressing the button 12 the circuit is closed and the steel wire bearing the clapper thereby caused to vibrate between the bells, and to strike against the lever 21, which is forced to one side. The movement of said lever is communicated through the movable head 19 to the indicator arm 2 1 and the same caused to move to the right to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the indicating words disclosed through the opening 26. At the same time the rod 18 is moved longitudinally until it projects beyond the edge of the box as shown. Upon removing the receiver 10 from the hook 9 the switch 8 actuated by the spring inside of the box 3 will move upwardly, and said movement being communicated. to the arm 15 of the elbow lever 14:, the

- arm 17 will be thereby caused to strike against the end of the rod 18, and the indicator disk will move to the left and resume its normal position.

While I have shown two bells in the drawing I by no means desire to limit myself to the use of the same, as it is obvious that one bell may be used and also that other changes and modifications may be made in my apparatus without departing from the spirit of I. my invention.

ringing the same, a pivotally mounted arm, an lndicator disk carried by sald arm, a lever 1 connected with said arm, said lever being placed so as to be moved to one side by said clapper when said bell is rung, whereby said arm is moved upon its pivot.

3. In a telephone box, a bell, a clapper for ringing the same, a pivotally mounted arm,

an indicator disk mounted on said arm, a lever connected with said arm, a movable head connecting said lever and said arm, said lever being placed so as to be moved to one side by said clapper when said bell is rung, whereby said arm is moved upon its pivot.

41:. In a telephone box, a pivotally mounted arm, an indicator disk carried by said arm, a longitudinally moving rod connected to said arm, an elbow lever, a pivotally mounted hook, a connecting-rod connecting said hook to one of the arms of said elbow lever, the free arm of said lever being so arranged as to strike against the free end of said rod when said lever is moved upon its fulcrum.

5. In a telephone box, a pivotally mounted hook, a spring actuating the same and normally held at a tension, an elbow lever, a connecting-rod connecting said hook with one of the arms of said elbow lever, a pivotally mounted disk arm, an indicator disk mounted on said disk arm, a longitudinally moving rod, a movable head connecting said rod with said disk arm, said elbow lever being arranged so that its free arm will strike against the free end of said rod when the tension against said spring is released.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this eighth day of November 1907.

EUGENE T. DUCHARME.

Witnesses HARRY F. R. DOLAN, MARY C. DURKEE. 

